Doddy was also known for marathon live shows lasting for five hours or more and peppered with gags that were cheeky, saucy — and often just plain daft.

Anne, speaking outside their Knotty Ash home, said: “The world has lost a life-enhancing, brilliant, creative comedian with an operatically-trained voice, who just wanted to make people happy.

“He lived to perfect his art and entertain his live and adoring audiences. I’ve been overwhelmed by the love and affection which I’ve already received from dear friends and the public and I thank you all.”

Rex Features

Master of the one-liner Doddy was known for his marathon live shows and peppered with cheeky, saucy — oftentimes plain daft — gags

Classic comedy from Ken Dodd's 'Live Laughter Tour'

They wed on Friday in front of a registrar, shortly after Doddy’s six-week stay in hospital with a chest infection. He did his last show in Liverpool in December.

The BBC last night cancelled its planned usual schedule for a tribute to Sir Ken, including an airing of his Happiness TV show and an interview with him.

Twitter / Piers Morgan

Piers Morgan paid his tribute to Sir Ken - the 'greatest comedian Britain has ever produced' and a trues son of Liverpool

The London Palladium, where he performed a record breaking 42-week run of shows in 1965, dimmed its lights in his memory.

Fans left feather dusters outside the star’s home in homage to his classic “tickling stick” routine.

Financial expert Sarah Coles said Doddy had shown a shrewd head for money matters by marrying Anne to save tax. She added: “There are tremendous differences between the ways that a partner and a spouse are treated when it comes to inheritance tax.

“Assets can be passed between spouses free of tax, which can make an enormous difference.”

PA:Press Association

A money expert said Doddy showed 'a shrewd head for money matters by marrying Anne' who could have been liable to tax at 40 per cent on the vast majority of his estate

Without tying the knot, Anne could have been liable to tax at 40 per cent on the vast majority of Doddy’s estate.

It may have meant a bill of up to £2.6million.

After his tax evasion acquittal in 1989 Doddy mined the experience for comic material — making jokes about the trial the centrepiece of his live performances.

The court had heard how he stashed cash in wardrobes, cupboards and under his stairs.

British comedian Ken Dodd does Ventriloquist Act

He started opening his act with the gag: “Good evening, my name is Kenneth Arthur Dodd, singer, photographic playboy and failed accountant.” And he quipped: “I told the Inland Revenue I didn’t owe them a penny because I lived by the sea.”

Doddy was made an OBE in 1982 and was knighted last year for services to entertainment and charity. He also made it into the Guinness Book of Records for the longest joke-telling session ever - 1,500 jokes in 3½ hours.

Mirrorpix

Ken Dodd - pictured on tour in Glasgow on 9 October 1972 - also made it into the Guinness Book of Records for the longest joke-telling session ever - 1,500 jokes in 3½ hours

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Fans in Liverpool yesterday told of the sadness at his death.

Samuel Johnson said: “We’ll never forget the laughs he gave us.”

Doddy’s publicist Robert Holmes said of the star’s relationship with Anne: “It’s a love story to beat them all.”

Ken Dodd announces Mrs Brown's Boys wrong at the National Television Awards